Its Over!

So...school is out!!! Can you all join me in a loud joyous scream? All you working parents out there, I'll understand if you choose to reserve your selves from this act. Looking and paying for a summer babysitter is a lot of fun, I am sure. What can I tell ya, should have chosen teaching for a living!

These last four months were a bit challenging for me so forgive the overwhelming joy. I really do love my job and one of the things I love about it is knowing that there is an end, a long break from it. That is when I get to sit back, relax and reflect on the past few months. So here it goes.

February
I am enrolled in the master's program and the dreaded time to return from my maternity leave is here. My baby is 10 months and very attached to me. He is a bad sleeper and I am still breastfeeding him. My dear mom in-law (bless her heart) agrees to com to our house and watch our little ones on the days I work. This takes a big load of worries of my back.

I get introduced to my students. It was not love at first sight. I wrote all about my desire to quit here and here.

I didn't know if I'll have any nerves left by June. I prayed about my students every morning before going to work. And then God did a miracle. One of the most challenging students left to Mexico to visit family and never came back. I don't feel bad saying that she was not missed in my class. I also asked my wonderful instructor who is a Christian for advice. She told me that the most effective way to change their attitudes towards me is to pour out my love to them no matter how rude or disrespectful there are to me. She also told me that following school policies (writing detentions and referrals) don't always work, it is more effective to get them on your side one at the time by making connections with them.

It worked! After a few weeks, I was no longer dreading going to work and though they never turned into angels, they were responding to me and I was able to get through my content.

June
A few weeks ago, I bought many bottles of sparkling cider and students volunteered to say a "Toast to the Future". It warmed my heart listening to how their attitudes changed toward me and the goals the have for their futures. Here are some pics of my most challenging class:

I didn't think I would every say this, but I will actually miss majority of them. They were a unique group that's for sure. A few of the students signed up to be my aids next year. I look forward to having them in my classes again.


Summer
I have soooo many little plans for this summer, but most of it will be occupied with spending time with my children. September will be here before I know it. Until then...I am a FREE bird. Well, sort of :)

Birthday Boy In the House

Dear Nicolas,

Today is your B-day and in a few minutes, you will officially turn 3. You have grown and changed so much over the last year. One of the biggest changes that occurred is in your ability to speak in sentences. I love conversing with you about different subjects. Right now, you are quiet fascinated about God and Jesus. In fact, today you asked if God knows how to drive a car. I hope you never stop being fascinated with our creator and that this fascination will foster life long appreciation for his creation.

I just love your character. You are sweet and forgiving. When you smile, you melt the hearts of the most grumpiest spectators when we are out and about. You are also most definitely your sister's brother. You love to put on lotion that smells nice, and to paint your nails, and to put on chopstick, and face painting. Right now, your favorite color is pink. You crack us up numerous times a day.

We love you sweet boy, here is a short recap of the last three years for ya.


Love,

Mama

I couldn't get the music to go on to my movie maker. So I had to add it separate at the bottom of this page.

Timely Video

I was searching for a song about children for a project I am working on and came across this one. As I was listening to it, the words convicted me and I got teary eyed as I thought of the things I wrote in the post prior to this one. Hope you enjoy it too. And please, don't argue with me about the 'let them sleep in the middle' lyrics.

Hurrying the Clock

As of lately, I catch myself thinking a lot about the future. More so, it seems like I am often anxious to speed up the time as I can hardly wait to get to the future I framed in my mind. After evaluating my thoughts, I concluded that I imagined these things all for my selfish purposes.

I've said things like, 'I can't wait until the baby gets older so that we can sleep through the night again.' And 'I can't wait until he starts walking. ' And the latest exertion of my impatience," I cannot wait until Tim starts kindergarten."

Was I concerned about the development of his gross motor skills? No, I just got tired carrying around a 30 pound curious baby. Was I excitedly thinking about the milestone of beginning school and learning how to be independent? No, again. I thought about how it would free me up to work full time so that we can beef up our currently anorexic income.

I realize now that all of these fantasies came about because of desperation. Why else would a person want to get older? I was desperate to rest, desperate to get things done around the house. I am currently desperate to bring my bills up to date. Part of me feels guilty for thinking such things. I was told by people whose kids are all grown up numerous times to 'treasure this time" and to enjoy every stage in their development. The cliche 'we don't know what tomorrow might bring us' is true and nothing guarantees that I'll live to the future I so anxiously and carefully planned out for my self and my family.

I know where I should allocate my energy. It just seems like as of lately, I keep missing that target by a big range.

Deserved to Party

We, the educating citizens are pretty giddy right about now. Over two hundred days of school are about to end and we can hardly wait to be dismissed. We rejoice at the thought of being temporary unemployed and tend to party a lot. My calender is about to burst with all the days booked for celebrations. There is a

~Party for graduating ELL seniors I missed last week
~Formal graduation ceremony I probably won't make it to
~District ELL Staff Party tomorrow
~Our school ELL Staff Party on Friday
~A retirement party for a teacher I used to work with is someday next week
~There is an End of the Year party at Abby's Russian school today
~Breakfast for ALL staff the last day of school
~End of the Year Barbecue at my daughter's school on Friday as well
~Her very cute Kindergarten graduation is next Tuesday


With so many parties to go to I think I am making my husband suspicious.

Surprised!

I was explaining something to a student when I turned around and saw my boss casually sitting on one of my chairs. She came in to tell me not to pack my stuff because there have been some changes and that I get to stay in my school. I almost fainted when I heard that.

For the past several months, I've been thinking, planning, shifting gears and almost started packing. I have already make arrangements to work full time in the beginning of next year at my new school. I almost transferred my daughter to that school as well. And then...surprise! All of that was unnecessary!

Though I am happy I won't need to be packing and putting my things on which I worked so hard on in storage, I am a bit disappointed to have missed the opportunity to get new experience, new knowledge. Who knows I might have liked it better there!

She also told me that instead of me, there are moving a different teacher who is not at all fond of this news. She has worked here twice as long as me, has liked the routine and is very comfortable here. The reason they are moving her is complicated I was told. It has to do with our certifications and endorsements. She is mortified as she will need to be commuting between two schools. I feel bad for her and will need to hide my excitement for a while.

I am young and flexible and pretty easy going on most days and the news of transfer took a while to sink in at first. She is older, very set in her ways and did not at all expect to get this. The ELL party was supposed to be held at her house this year. I don't think she is up for celebration.
If I host it at my house, do you think it will send a wrong message?

Paradox

This world is officially twisted. Late term abortion doctors are Christian church members and those who oppose murder, commit it in the house of God. Read this sick story here.